Elderly must apply to receive tax relief

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, February 15, 2006

BETHEL - Seniors and the disabled who meet income guidelines can get a break from the town on their real estate taxes.

But to get the benefits, they have to apply. The deadline is May 15.
"It's such a wonderful benefit that the town provides," said Tax Collector
Ann Scacco
. "It's just a help to take some of the burden off them taxwise."
Senior who are unsure whether they are eligible should still apply, said Scacco.
Appointments should be made with the tax collector's office to apply.
Among the eligibility requirements are:
File for the state elderly tax relief with the assessor's office.
Be 65 years old.
If younger than 65, you must be disabled.
Be a Bethel taxpayer for one year prior to July 1, 2005
Under the town program, the maximum income allowed for eligibility is $40,000 for a single person or married couple. Under the state elderly tax relief program, the maximum income allowed for eligibility is $27,500 for a single person and $33,900 for a married couple.
The town's elderly tax relief program has six levels of income eligibility with tax breaks ranging from 75 percent for the lowest to 10 percent for the highest income levels.
Elderly residents who earn no more than $13,800 will get the biggest tax break and those who earn between $33,901 and $40,000 will get the lowest break.
Bethel's elderly tax relief program began in 1978. But until 2001 when the program was greatly enhanced, the maximum income level to be eligible was $7,500.

Appointments to apply for the tax relief program should be made with the Bethel tax collector's office at (203) 794-8509. Deadline to apply is May 15.